How to Use These Materials for Pollution Prevention Outreach

These materials on Pollution Prevention
for auto repair and fleet maintenance were developed to give environmental
programs, technical assistance providers, and trade associations high quality
materials for use in their outreach programs to business. At this time,
EPA cannot provide large quantities of the fact sheets and videos. However,
we have made it easy for you to customize and reproduce these materials
to suit your needs.

How to customize and reproduce the fact sheets

For fewer than 300 copies: We recommend you color photocopy the fact sheets
you intend to use. There is a space on the back of each fact sheet for you
to attach a label with your agency contact information. You can package
these in a regular file or presentation folder, and affix your own label.

For more than 300 copies: We suggest you have the fact sheets and file
folders professionally printed. We can provide the original page layout
files (with fonts and printing instructions) on CD ROM, which can be accessed
by most graphic designers and printers. We encourage programs to add their
logo, agency contact information, and any specific regulatory language
to customize the fact sheets to your needs.

How and why the fact sheets and videos were created

This information was developed by Region 9's Pollution Prevention program
with the guidance of two advisory boards comprised of Pollution Prevention
experts in the auto repair and fleet maintenance sectors. The project began
in early 1998. Due to our past experiences working with small businesses
in general, and the auto repair and fleet maintenance sectors in particular,
we found that in order to be effective, P2 information must:

Focus on the top "fixes" in a given industry sector which give the greatest
environmental benefit at a reasonable cost to business;

Provide detailed information including complete environmental, technical
and economic evaluations of those "fixes," along with convincing case
studies;

Integrate the information into a user-friendly set of materials which
is complete, concise, and easily accessible.

With these operating principles in mind, we began a materials development
process that had as its goal the creation of high quality P2 information
for the auto repair and fleet maintenance sectors. We wanted the information
to be relevant and useful anywhere in the U.S. and possibly in other countries
as well. We felt that if we could accomplish these goals, we could assist
P2 champions in industry and technical assistance programs by giving them
the tools they need to inspire action to reduce wastes and prevent pollution.
Hopefully, we also wanted to spare programs the cost and staff time of
developing these materials for themselves.

We are very aware that the real trick in getting P2 implemented on the
ground comes at the local, not federal, level. Whether inside the vehicle
maintenance operation or the local technical assistance program, the "human
factor" - individual creativity and talent - is what makes or breaks P2
implementation. There is no substitute for the inspired P2 champion. We
only hope that our efforts will fuel his or her imagination.

Tips on using these materials in outreach/technical assistance programs

Do your own field verifications of these "fixes" using local shops/fleet
operations to create local success stories and champions who will speak
up on behalf of the efficacy of the "fixes."

Gather good data using our forms where possible and write up the case
studies. Numbers motivate! Solicit volunteer demonstration sites from
local trade associations. Most members are very proactive and happy to
share their experiences.

Hold training workshops in the evening (6-9pm) or during existing trade
association meetings or conferences. Auto repair shop owners/technicians
never show up during the day, though fleet personnel might.

Since implementing all these "fixes" at once is daunting, consider offering
a program where participating companies implement one P2 "fix" at a time
over a 12-16 month period. Perhaps get sponsorship from the local trade
association and show up at their regular dinner meetings every month/two
months to present the new topic, then offer them implementation assistance
during the interval between meetings. Any shop/fleet which implements
80% of the fixes gets some form of recognition!

For information on successful business recognition programs for auto
repair and fleet maintenance operations see: http://www.abag.ca.gov/lfor
information on the San Francisco Bay Area Green business program (includes
compliance and P2 checklists), or http://www.envirostars.com/ for
information on the Seattle, Washington area Envirostars program.

If you have a local CESQG hazardous waste collection program use it as
incentive to get vehicle repair operations to reduce wastes. Document
the benefits and tell the success stories. You can use the waste generation
tables inside the fact sheet entitled "Profit Through Prevention" to help
determine generator status and track progress.

These materials can be a useful membership benefit for trade associations
that serve auto repair or fleet maintenance staff or managers. We would
welcome the opportunity to work with interested associations to distribute
these materials to your members. For more information, contact Tom Huettman
or John Katz.